China's Olympic Challenge

Tue 27.5.2008Auditorium of the New Annex Building of the ParliamentArkadiankatu 3

On 27 May 2008 at 9:00-10:30
at the Auditorium of the Parliament (New Annex Building, Arkadiankatu 3)

SUMMARY

On May 27, 2008, with the Beijing Olympic Games around the corner and
only weeks after the devastating earthquake in southwest China, a
timely seminar on the challenges that the People's Republic of China
faces as host of the next Olympics was held under the auspices of FIIA.
The session was chaired by Prof Raimo Väyrynen with presentations given
by FIIA senior researchers Ms. L. Jakobson and Dr M. Nojonen, as well
as Prof Zha Daojiong of Beijing University.

The seminar proved a significant contribution to helping dispel
misconceptions and foster balanced perceptions of perhaps the most
heatedly debated actor on the international stage these days.
Increasingly self-confident yet equally vulnerable, China generates
mixed sentiment and presents a profound diplomatic challenge by drawing
a line on issues like civil liberty and democracy. The Chinese
government continues to give national unity and the legitimacy of
Communist Party priority in considerations. Indeed, this is where many
of the conflicting views surrounding the Olympic Games spring from.

Senior researcher Ms. Linda Jakobson, FIIA

Addressing the political implications of the Olympic Games, Ms.
Jakobson began by underlining China's volatile state of affairs, as
exemplified by international uproar and controversial media coverage
over the Tibetan issue on the one hand and unprecedented sympathy for
the victims of the Sichuan earthquake on the other.

Contradictions will nonetheless persist as long as there is a dichotomy
between how the Chinese perceive their country and how the rest of the
world views it. Whereas other countries may see the Beijing Olympics as
an initiation rite to certain international standards, the Chinese
government is primarily committed to meeting domestic expectations and
gives boycotting statesmen abroad far less attention than potential
discontent or political unrest at home. Much of the Communist Party's
legitimacy rests on vows to restore China's sense of self after a
century of subjugation from foreign powers since the late Qing dynasty.
The Olympics, too, should be seen in this light.

Hosting the event makes China susceptible to a broad range of
criticism, of which the kind that checks the Chinese government's
accountability may be welcome. Attempts to turn the games into a
vehicle for promoting parliamentarianism or other political agendas are
not warranted, however. The bureaucracy still has the power to stall
political change.

Senior researcher Dr Matti Nojonen, FIIA

Dr Nojonen offered insight into the economic implications of the
Beijing Olympics, which he sees as the first mass-movement since Mao's
days. The event is raising spirits in the capital while rural areas
face continued hardship. Hosting the games is significant not only for
its symbolic value and the spiritual boost it offers, but also offers
businesses considerable marketing opportunities.

The Beijing Olympics have managed to attract major private sponsors,
but China's turbulent political climate has caused foreign companies to
make investment decisions at a very late stage. The games could offer
largely unknown Chinese corporations a window to international
recognition, yet many are wary of marketing themselves abroad due to
China’s changeable political image. At home they market themselves with
an emphasis on national identity, whereas on the international stage
they strive to appear as neutral global players.

However, Olympic hosts are prone to suffer from economic downturn in
the wake of their games. Profitability of the event itself is another
source for concern as expenses for Beijing 2008 have reached 48bn
euros, nearly double the 26bn limit set in 2004 and equalling some 2%
of China’s GDP. Sichuan’s earthquake has allowed China to show a humane
side of itself, but the catastrophe will give China’s economy another
big dent.

Prof Zha Daojiong, Beijing University

Speaking of the Beijing Olympics on behalf of scholarly Chinese,
Professor Zha concurs with the previous speakers that holding the games
may be seen as a landmark for modern China on a path to consolidating
its position as a player on the global stage. Nonetheless he laments
the organisers for going over the top in arrangements, costing China a
vast amount of effort and resources.

Considering the Beijing Olympics a success would entail avoiding
domestic or international tumult and smooth operation of services for
guests and participants. China faces a challenge with the 33,000
reporters it invited to the event, as over half of them are covering
issues related to matters other than sports and their lack of expertise
in Chinese affairs raises concern. Insufficiently informed coverage
over Chinese affairs and potential bias against the organisers may
cause ill feelings on both sides.

Civil protests abroad over China’s human rights record, Taiwan or
relations with I”rogue” states come as no surprise to the Chinese, but
foreign countries raising these topics in their diplomatic agendas is
upsetting. Consistency and outspoken policy is a prerequisite for
workable relations with China – other countries need to be explicit
about where they stand on Tibet, for instance, the way Washington has
been on the question over Taiwan’s independence. Furthermore,
governments need be aware of how NGO activities may interfere with
prudent diplomacy.

Questions and comments from the floor

The seminar's audience represented a wide array of people, ranging from
scholars in various fields to politicians and diplomats. Questions
concerned whether China's sudden turn from victimiser (referring to the
clampdown on riots in Tibet) to victim (after the earthquake) in the
foreign media is reflected in how the Chinese themselves view their
situation, and whether the earthquake has dampened the nation's
enthusiasm for its impending Olympic Games. While hosting the event
remains a matter of pride and joy for most Chinese, Professor Zha
emphasised that the Olympics will come and go, and both he and Ms.
Jakobson suggested that more stable relations with China require that
sentiment towards China was not dictated by isolated or transient
incidents. Another question asked why the Chinese leadership makes such
a fuss about western politicians befriending the Dalai Lama even though
this practice tends to smack of electorate appeal and hardly warrants
an impact on actual relations with China, but Professor Zha dismissed
such politicised stunts as irresponsible, adding that the Dalai Lama
deserves little credit as a politician.

Another query concerned what role the Shanghai World Expo will play
after the Beijing Olympics are over Another one touched on health
issues and reports of organ harvesting in China, which the speakers
found to boil down to plain and simple poverty and Dr Nojonen pointed
out the sad fact that organs are for sale in response to demand. On a
more positive note, the panel spoke of a growing awareness of green
values in China in response to a question about the Beijing Olympics
impact on the city's deteriorating environment.